Friction-clutch.



No. 818,331. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

' E. E. ANDREWS.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLIOATIONIILED APR.24. 1905.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 818,331. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. E. E. ANDREWS.

FRICTION GLUTGH.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 (Jame/urea gag; aflm I akin 14M;

' ionrrnn srnrns PATENT FFICIE.

EDWIN EADS ANDREWS, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC CLUTCHCOMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed April 24,1905. Serial No. 257,225.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN EADs AN- DREWS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to friction-clutches, and more particularly to thattype in which an expansible member, such as a split ring, is employed asthe means of connection between the two members of the clutch, and hasfor its object to provide an improved construction embodying simplicityin construction and certainty in operation, as will be hereinafter moredefinitely pointed out and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of the clutch. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken ata right angle to Fig. 1, the wedge or lever, split ring, and drivenmember being shown in full lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 8 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, takenon the line 4 4, Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are diagrammatic viewsillustrating the operation of the device. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 areenlarged detail views of the split ring, illustrating modifiedconstructions. Figs. 12 and 13 are views similar to Figs. 5 to 8,illustrating a modified construction of the split ring and wedge orlever.

Similar characters of reference denote cor responding parts in theseveral views.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 denotes the driving memberof the clutch, the same being mounted to freely rotate on the shaft 2and being provided with the usual driving-pulley 3 for receiving thedriving-belt. (Not shown.) At one end the clutch member 1 is enlargedand internally recessed at 4 to receive loosely thereon the split ring5. Said split ring is preferably formed in two parts, as shown in Fig.3, a pin 6 being loosely interposed between the ends thereof oppositethe actuating wedge or lever hereinafter described.

Keyed to the shaft 2 at 7 is the driven member 8 of the clutch, the samebeing recessed at 9 to loosely receive therein a wedge or lever 10,having one end lying in and snugly fitting between the ends of the splitring 5 and having its opposite tapered end extending parallel with theshaft 2 and lying in said recess 9, as shown. A short pin 11, fixed tosaid wedge or lever 10, abuts against the end of member 8 to preventlongitudinal movement of said wedge or lever. Mounted on said loosemember 8 and movable longitudinally thereon is a sleeve 12, the samebeing adapted to slide over the enlarged end of the fast member 1.nularly at 13 to receive the shifting lever (not shown) of anywell-known construction and is provided with two pins 14, fixed thereinand projecting into the recess 9 of driven member 8 on each side of thetapered end of wedge or lever 10.

From the above description the operation of my improved constructionwill be under stood to be as follows: Power being applied to the drivingmember 1 through the driving pulley 3 by means of the usual belt torotate the same and. the parts being in the position shown in Figsv 1and 2, the split ring 5, fitting snugly in the recess 4 of drivingmember 1., will be carried by the slight frictional contact therewith inthe direction of rotation and will carry with it the Wedge or lever 10until the latter abuts against that wall of the recess 9 in drivenmember 8 toward which the driving member 1 is rotating. point of contactis immediately adjoining the split ring 5 the longitudinal position ofsaid wedge or lever 10 will be unaffected thereby, and as said splitring will not be expanded the resistance offered by the driven member 8and its connected parts will overcome the slight frictional resistanceoffered by the unexpanded split ring 5, and the latter will be stopped.Now when it is desired to connect the two members of the clutch to causethem to rotate in unison the sleeve 12 is shifted. to the left towardthe driving member 1, with the result that the pin 14, lying on the sidetoward which the split ring 5 and wedge or lever 10 have beenmoved, willcontact with the tapered side of said Wedge or lever and during thefurther movement of said sleeve 12 will gradually force said tapered endof the wedge or lever in the opposite direction, thus tilting said Wedgeor lever and gradually expanding the ends of the split ring 5, the pointof contact between said wedge or lever and the wall of recess 9 indriven member 8 acting as a fulcrum. It will thus be seen that thistilting of the wedge or lever 10 upon the wall Said sleeve is groovedan- Now as this of recess 9 as a fulcrum will continue until theconsequent expansion of split ring 5 affords a sufl icient grippingaction on the driving member 1 to overcome the load of the driven member8 and its connected parts, whereupon said member 8 will rotate in unisonwith member 1. This result being accomplished, the further movement ofsleeve 12 to the left will, through pin 14, force wedge or lever 10 awayfrom contact with the wall of recess 9, thus shifting the fulcrum-pointof said wedge or lever to said pin 14, so that any subsequent increasein the load imposed on driven member 8, will through the frictional dragof split ring 5, automatically cause a further tilting of wedge or lever10 on the pin 14 as a fulcrum and a consequent increased expansion ofsaid split ring, whereby the greater the load imposed on member 8 theharder the gripping action of the split ring 5.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 I have illustrated by diagrammatic views theabove-described operation as follows: In Fig. 5 the parts are shown withthe pin 14 moved to the right, so that the split ring 5 is unexpanded,the point of contact between wedge or lever 10 and the wall of recess 9being shown at 00. In Fig. 6 the pin 14 has been moved to the left byits sleeve 12 until it just contacts with, but does not yet turn, thewedge or lever 10. In Fig. 7 the pin 14 has been moved still further tothe left until it has turned wedge or lever 10 on the point a; as apivot just far enough to expand split ring 5 sufficiently to overcomethe resistance of the load imposed on driven member 8, thereby causingthe parts to ro tate in unison. In Fig. 8 the pin 14 has reached itsextreme limit of movement to the left, thereby carrying the wedge orlever 10 away from the point 00 and itself forming the pivotal point ofsaid wedge or lever, so that any increase in the load imposed on theclutch will, through the drag of split ring 5, automatically cause afurther tilting of wedge or lever 10 on pin 14 as a pivot and aconsequent increased expansion of said split ring, which willnecessarily increase the gripping action of said split ring. It willthus be seen that when in the position shown in Fig. 7 the wed e orlever 10 is a lever of the first order, the fulcrum being at :20, thepower at the pin 14, and the load. at the split ring 5; but when the pin14 is further shifted to the left the wedge or lever 10 at once becomesa lever of the third order, the fulcrum being at the pin 14, the powerat the point y in Fig. 8, and the load at the point .2.

By. employing the above-described construction it has been found inpractice that the clutch may be applied in a most gradual manner andwithout the slightest jerking action, so detrimental with many kinds ofmachinery, particularly where gearing is employed.

While I have shown and described two pins 14, one on each side of thetapered end of wedge or lever 10, it will be understood that but one ofthe same is operative with a fixed direction of rotation of the drivingmember 1, the other pin 14 coming into operation only when the directionof rotation is reversed.

An important advantage obtained by the location of the body of the lever10 outside of the plane of the diameter of the split ring 5 is that thesize of the clutch may be reduced to a minimum, it only being necessaryto provide room for the split ring 5.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a modified construction of the split ring,the same being indicated at 5 and being surrounded by ametallic band 15,having its split ends inturned at 16 and engaged in a recess 17, formedin said split ring, preferably on the side opposite to that where thewedge or lever 10 engages therewith. Said band 15 forms the frictionalbearing-surface against the driving member 1 of the clutch, and when thedirection of rotation of said member 1 is in the direction of the arrowsaid band will be shifted to the position shown, so that the right-handinturned end 16 thereof will engage that Wall of recess 17 in the splitring to pull said split ring around. It will be understood that when thedirection of rotation of member 1 is reversed the band 15 will becarried in the opposite direction, thus bringing the lefthand inturnedend 16 in engagement with its wall of recess 17, thereby exerting asimilar pull in that direction. The advantage of this construction isthat the member 1 exerts a pulling action on split ring 5 as distinguished from the pushing action exerted when said band is dispensedwith, thereby rendering the clutching action smoother and less liable toa jerking action.

I have illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 further modified. forms of thespilt ring. In Fig. 10

the split ring is indicated at 5 and is formed in two sections, themeeting faces 18 of the same opposite the point of engagement of thewedge or lever 10 being inclined slightly away from each other towardthe center of the split ring. Located between said faces 18 is a wedge19, against which impinges one end of a spring 20, the enlarged portionsof the split ring forming part of the faces, 18 being slotted at 21 toreceive the end of said spring when the latter forces the wedge 19outward. By means of this construction any wear on the split ring 5 isautomatically taken up, the wedge 19 being forced outward by the spring20, thus further separating the two parts of said split ring. Saidspring may be a very light one, as it is obvious that by reason of theslight relative angle of separation of the faces 18 pressure on thewedge 19 by the split ring will not force said wedge back against even alight pressure due to the frictional resistance between the faces 18 andwedge 19. In Fig. 11 the construction and operation are the same as inFig. 10, except that the split ring 5 is divided into three parts, andtwo wedges 19 are employed, which are pressed outwardly by the singlespring 20.

It will be obvious that the construction shown in Fig. 9 and theconstructions shown in Figs. 10 and 11 are in no sense alternative, asthe band 15 may be applied to either the Fig. 10 or the Fig. 11construction without interfering in any way with the action of thewedges 19 or 19*.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated a modified form of construction ofthe wedge or lever, the same being shown'at 10 and having its sidescontacting with the ends of the split ring 5 formed in the arc of acircle whose diameter would be considerably greater than the width ofsaid wedge or lever at that point. I also recess the split ring 5 on oneside at 22 and correspondingly project the member 8 at 23 to engagetherein, said projection, however, being somewhat shorter than thelength of recess 22, as shown. In this construction with the parts shownas in Fig. 12, which corresponds to that shown in Fig. 6, the wedge willremain untilted and one wall of recess 22 will be carried into contactwith the projection 23, which performs the function of the point at inFigs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 13 the pin 14 is shown moved to the left to theposition corresponding to Fig. 8 that is to say, past the point wherethe wedge or lever 10 has been tilted sufficiently to expand the splitring into clutching action. In this position, because of the width ofsaid pin 14, the wedge or lever 10 will be shifted bodily from theadjacent wall of the recess 9 of the member 8 the split ring 5 beingalso bodily shifted a corresponding distance, so that the wall of recess22 will be moved away from contact with projection 23, as shown, theresult being, as in Figs. 5 to 8, that any increase in the load imposedon the clutch will, through the frictional drag of split ring 5automatically cause a further tilting of wedge or lever 10 on the pin 14as a fulcrum, and a consequent increased expansion of said split ring,as hereinbefore described. with respect to Figs. 5 to 8. One advantageof this construction is that while on the one hand in the constructionshown in Figs. 5 to 8 the points of application of the lever 10 arefixed at y 2, on the other hand in Figs. 12 and 13 the initial points ofapplication are at an, which points gradually shift to b b in Fig. 13,thus approaching the pin 14, the result being that the leverage of lever10 is greater in Fig. 13 than in Figs. 7 and 8 by reason of' the factthat the distance between point I) and pin 14 is always greater thanthat between point 1 and pin 14. Thus, too, in the modified constructionwith a light load the leverage is greater than with a heavy load, forunder the latter condition the point I) must be brought nearer to thepin 14 to sufficiently expand the split ring, which necessarily shortensthe dis tance between point I) and pin 14. Another advantage of thisconstruction is that as the points of contact between the wedge or lever1O and the ends of split ring 5 are gradually shifted from the points ain Fig. 12 as the pin 14 is moved to the left to the points I) in Fig.13, instead of from the whole fiat sides of wedge or lever 10* abruptlyto the points y and z in Fig. 8, the application of the clutch will bemore gradual, thus effecting the clutching of the members with greaterease and with practically perfect smoothness.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and a gripping member loosely disposed in operative relation thereto, ofmeans independent of said clutch members for forcing said grippingmember into gripping action, and means for causing said gripping memberto automatically increase the gripping action in proportion to anyincrease in the load.

2. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and an expansible member loosely disposed in op era tive relationthereto, of means lying outside of the plane of the diameter of saidexpansible member for forcing said expansible member into grippingaction against the load on the clutch, and for causing said expansiblemember to automatically increase the gripping action in proportion toany increase in said load.

3. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and an expansible member loosely disposed in operative relation thereto,of a wedge or lever for expanding said expansible member into grippingaction, and a movable part independent of said clutch members adapted toinitially tilt said wedge or lever to expand said expansible memberagainst the load on the clutch, and to further tilt said wedge or leverautomatically through the expansible member as the load on the clutch isincreased.

4. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and an expansible member loosely disposed in operative relation thereto,of a wedge or lever for expanding said expansible member into grippingaction, and means for operating said wedge or lever to shift thefulcrum-point of said wedge or lever and the point of application of thepower and to change the character of the power, so that the expansiblemember is initially expanded against the load of one of the members, butis further automatically expanded by any increase in the load imposed onthe clutch.

5. In a friction-clutch, the combination ICO with the two membersthereof, and a split ring loosely disposed in operative relationthereto, of a wedge or lever engaging be tween the ends of said splitring for expanding the latter into gripping action, and a movable partindependent of said clutch members engaging the free end of said wed eor lever to tilt the same and thus expand said split ring against theload and by its further movement after the split ring has been expandedsufficiently to clutch the members becoming the fulcrum of said wedge orlever, whereby any increase in the load imposed on the clutch will causesaid split ring to automatically increase the tilt of said wedge orlever and thereby further expand said split ring into firmer grippingaction.

6. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and a split ring loosely disposed in operative relation thereto, of awedge or lever engaging between the ends of said split ring forexpanding the latter into gripping action and having its free endtapered, a sleeve shiftable on one of said members toward and from theother member, and a projection carried by said sleeve for engaging, whenshifted, the tapered end of said wedge or lever to tilt the latter andthus expand said split ring into gripping action against the loadimposed on the clutch, and in its further movement becoming the fulcrumof said wedge or lever whereby any increase in the load will cause saidsplit ring to automatically increase the tilt of said wedge or lever andthereby further expand said split ring into firmer gripping action.

7. In a friction clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and a split ring loosely disposed in operative relation thereto, of awedge or lever having one end engagingbetween the ends of said splitring for expanding the latter into gripping action and having its otherend tapered and freely disposed in one of said members, a wall in saidmember immediately adjacent to said split ring forming the initialfulcrum-point for said wedge or lever, a sleeve shiftable on said membertoward and from the other member, and a projection carried by saidsleeve for enga ing, when shifted, between the fulcrum-wall and thetapered end of said 'wedge or lever to tilt the latter and thus expandsaid split ring into gripping action against the load imposed on theclutch, and for forcing, in its further movement, said wedge or leveraway from said wall and thus becoming the fulcrum of said wedge or leverwhereby any increase in the load will cause said split ring toautomatically increase the tilt of said wedge or lever and therebyfurther expand said split ring into firmer gripping action.

8. In a frictionclutch, the combination with the two members thereof, ofan expansible member loosely disposed in operative relation thereto, awedge or lever for expanding said expansible member into grippingaction, means for gradually shifting the points of contact between thetwo as the gripping action is applied to shorten the leverage, andmeans'for operating said wedge or lever.

9. In a friction clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and an expansible member loosely disposed in operative relation thereto,of a wedge or lever for expanding said expansible member into grippingaction, the points of contact between said expansible member and saidwedge or lever being formed on a curve and means f0 operating said wedgeor lever.

10. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,and an expansible member loosely disposed in operative relation thereto,of a wedge or lever for expanding said expansible member into grippingaction and having its contacting surfaces with said expansible memberformed on a curve and means for operating said wedge or lever.

11. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,a split ring loosely disposed in operative relation thereto, and meansfor operating said split ring of a split band encircling said split ringand formin an intermediate surface between said split ring and itsgripping surface, said band having its ends inturned and adapted toengage said split ring whereby the move ment imparted to said band whenforced by the expansion of said split ring into gripping action will beimparted to said split ring.

12. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,of a split ring disposed in operative relation thereto, means forautomatically and permanently expanding said split ring to compensatefor wear thereon, and independent means for expanding said split ringinto gripping action.

13. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,of a split ring disposed in operative relation thereto and formed in aplurality of sections, means for automatically and permanentlyseparating the sections of said split ring to compensate for wearthereon, and independent means for expanding said split ring intogrippin action.

14. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,of a split ring disposed in operative relation thereto and formed insections, a wedge disposed between each of saidsections to automaticallyand permanently separate said sections to compensate for wear thereon,and independent means for expanding said split ring into grippingaction.

15. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,of a split ring disposed in operative relation thereto and formed insections of which meeting faces are formed at an angle to each other, awedge disposed between each of said sections and contacting with saidmeeting faces, means for exerting a constant pressure on said wedge toforce the same to automatically sep arate said sections to compensatefor wear thereon, and independent means for expanding said split ringinto gripping action.

16. In a friction-clutch, the combination with the two members thereof,of a split ring disposed in operative relation thereto and formed insections of which certain meeting faces are formed at an angle to eachother, a wedge disposed between each of said sections and contactingwith said meeting faces, a spring for exerting a constant pressure onsaid Wedge to force the same to automatically separate said sections tocompensate for wear thereon, and independent means for ex panding saidsplit ring into gripping action.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDWIN EADS ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

DAYTON A. DOYLE, ANNA E. BOYLAN.

